AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Twenty-one
Harris
––––––––
“You ready for this?” I slide up next to Blue who’s standing off to the side of the softball field looking extremely apprehensive.
“Not even a little bit.” She forces a smile, tugging at the hem of her red t-shirt that she paired with tight, black athletic pants that show off every curve.
“You’ll do fine. It’s just a friendly game of softball between co-workers,” I reassure her. “Plus, have you looked around at some of the people that are playing? There’s no way you’re going to be the worst one on the field.”
“That’s debatable. I’m not the most coordinated person in the world. I typically struggle when I play something that includes balls.”
My lips twitch as I fight to contain my smile.
“I don’t know.” I lean in closer. “You play with me pretty fucking good.” I watch a pink hue spread across her cheeks which only serves to amuse me more. “You really are adorable, you know that?” I give her ponytail a little tug.
“Hey guys.” Hannah bounces up next to us, also wearing a red shirt, though hers is a racer back tank rather than a tee.
All they told us was you had to wear a shirt in your teams’ color, but there were no other specifications on attire. I guess they just assume people know what is appropriate and what isn’t. Then again, this probably isn’t the first company picnic/softball game they’ve all been to. Most of these people have been with the company for years, whereas I just completed my seventh month.
“Hey.” I nod my head in Hannah’s direction.
“Well, you ready for this?” Hannah asks Blue the exact same question that I asked her less than two minutes ago.
“Not really, but there’s not much I can do about it now. I just really don’t want to embarrass myself. I swear if either of you laughs at me I’ll never speak to you again.”
“Relax.” I bump her shoulder with mine. “No one is going to laugh at you.”
“There’s a reason that I’ve never signed up to play before. I would much rather be over there, cheering everyone on.” She gestures to the small silver bleachers that sit directly behind home plate, protected by a tall fence.
“Truthfully, I’m surprised I got you to agree,” Hannah interjects, tying her auburn hair up in a ponytail.
“You got me on a weak day.” Blue huffs. “I didn’t have the energy to argue with you about it that day. For the tenth year in a row.”
“Maybe that was the point. After all these years you would think you’d know me better.” Hannah hits her with a toothy smile before sashaying toward the bench where most of our team has already started to congregate.
Ten minutes later, we all filter onto the field. Red team had just enough players to form a complete team, which means Blue’s hope of sitting on the bench went out the window real fast. Trevor and I worked together to assign positions and I purposely stuck Blue in left field, thinking she’ll get the least amount of action out there.
The first inning is painless. The blue team went out one, two, three, and nothing went Blue’s way. When we switched, our team got four hits and two runs before getting our third out, and because Blue is at the end of the lineup, she didn’t have to bat.
“You made it through one inning,” I shout encouragingly to her as she passes me on her way back to left field.
“Just eight more to go,” she hollers back, not nearly as amused as me.
The second and third innings are much the same. Blue struck out in the second, but she looked damn good doing it. She even managed to throw in a ball that landed in left center and stopped a double from turning into a triple. All in all she wasn’t doing half bad.
By the fourth inning, our team is up five to zero and because Blue is one of the last to bat and I’m one of the first, when I step up to the plate she’s watching me from her spot on third base. Knowing it will probably help her confidence if she’s able to score, I make it my mission to at least get a single so that I can bring her in. It doesn’t matter if she gets there by being walked. A run is still a run.
I give my bat a few practice swings, then step up to the plate. Eyeing the pitcher – who happens to be a friend of mine, a hiring manager in HR – I knit my brows and straighten my stance, my bat primed to swing.
The first pitch is too high. Ball one. The second is right in my sweet spot but manages to skim by me by a millimeter, hitting the catcher’s glove seconds later. Strike one.
“Come on, Harris. You got this,” someone cheers from behind.
Setting my feet, I line up at the plate again. The third pitch is perfect. I know I’m going to swing the instant it leaves the pitcher’s hand. Digging the toe of my shoe into the dirt, I plant my feet and swing with all my might. A crack resonates through the air and I look up right in time to see the ball soar into the outfield.
Without a second of hesitation, I take off running. When I round second I see Blue has already scored, with most of the red team there to high five her after she crosses home plate. I smile to myself and then pick up the pace.
